School Board Elects Eastside Member Castro as President

The chronically bickering Los Angeles Board of Education elected Eastside member Victoria Castro its new president Wednesday, once again dismissing the incumbent before she could serve the customary second term.

Castro, a former school principal and once a leader of Chicano student walkouts, quickly showed that she plans to rule with a firm hand, several times cutting other members off in mid-sentence in an attempt to keep her first meeting moving.

As one of her priorities, Castro vowed to see that the board receives training in how to conduct its business more efficiently.

Castro replaced west San Fernando Valley representative Julie Korenstein, who proved unable to control the chaotic debate and incessant sniping that frequently dragged meetings out for more than 12 hours.

Korenstein had succeeded Jeff Horton, whose acerbic style had eroded his support for a second term.

Prior to Horton’s election, eight of the past 10 board presidents had served at least two consecutive terms, and one held the post three years in a row.

The board voted Castro in with almost no discussion, despite the abstentions of Korenstein and member David Tokofsky.

Korenstein said she had some reservations about Castro, but would not elaborate. Tokofsky, who was angered by Castro’s support for his Latino opponent in his last campaign, cited philosophical differences with Castro.

Castro appointed Barbara Boudreaux, who represents South-Central Los Angeles, as vice president.

Though the post is mostly ceremonial, the board president parcels out other members’ speaking time and is responsible for maintaining orderly discussion.

Korenstein was sometimes criticized for failing to gavel down obstreperous members who interrupted and who laced some meetings with personal attacks.

In thanking her supporters, Castro apologized several times for being nervous, but soon asserted her authority.

As Boudreaux launched into a speech when asked if she would support an amendment to a motion, Castro stopped her, demanding a simple yes or no.

Castro was less successful in sparring with Tokofsky.

First they disagreed over how many times he had spoken on an item.

“This is your second turn, Mr. Tokofsky,” Castro said sharply.

“It’s my first,” he rebutted. “There was no motion when I spoke the first time.”

Then she insisted that a series of questions he asked concerning the expulsion of a student should be reserved for a committee discussion.

Tokofsky raised his questions anyway.

Castro had been principal of Belvedere Middle School in East Los Angeles for seven years when she was elected in 1993 to the school board. She was reelected in 1997.

As a student at Cal State L.A., Castro helped organize the 1968 Chicano student walkouts, partly, she said, out of her frustration over the low enrollment of Latinos at the school.